Christmas day is in our grasp, as long as we have hands to clasp -Dr. Seuss

Yes, Im still alive and well here in Guatemala.

Since CEIPA went on holiday in early December, I´ve been trying to get more invloved in my Mam community. I started taking violin lessons, so far I can play El Niño del Tambour (the little drummer boy) and Joy to the World. To keep my family from hating me, I often escape to the roof to practice, thus making me (oh yes) the Guatemalan fiddler on the roof! I love it! I´ve also started a small English/Spanish (and maybe someday Mam) practice group with some university students who go to my church. We have fun, but their English is better than my Spanish and Im living in their country, which I find kind of embarassing. But all I can do is my best; I´m still learning and they dont judge me. I´m learning that it´s ok not to be perfect, and it´s a hard lesson.

We (the other volunteers, Marcia, and I) had an amazing December retreat. We decorated our little Western hearts out and we cooked a fantastic feast--stuffing, sweet potatos (camote), mashed potatos, gravy, chicken, and pumpkin pie--all from scratch with goods bargained for at the market. It was good to relax and hear that everyone is fine, but also missing their families during the holidays.

Christmas here in the Guat was quite an experience. I taught the youth group a song in English for the big Christmas eve celebration (angels we have heard on high, they especially liked the Gloooooooooria part) and the taught me a song in Mam: Cuctzaje´e´ocslal (oh come let us adore him). It was pretty hilarious. They keep insisting that Mam is easier to learn than Spanish, "It´s a lot more like English" they tell me. I want to ask them if they have ever heard English, or Mam for that matter. Let´s just say, they are different.

We decorated our little plastic tree with mandarinas and lights that sing Christmas songs, though they are are rather high pitched and off key. I helped my host mom make paches de arroz and Christmas eve we ate paches and drank ponche (hot sugar water with chunks of fruit floating in it). Some of the youth group came over and we played truth or dare (which, if youve ever played truth or dare with teens you know, quickly disolves into truth or truth and then finally who-do-you-like. Funny how some things are the same no matter where you go). At midnight everyone in the world set of firecrackers. It was fun, in a someone-is-about-to-get-hurt kind of way.

Christmas morning there were only two presents under the tree. One from Santa to the 5-year-old, and one from me to the family (twister, they´ve been playing non stop ever since). Mid-morning we went to the grandparent´s house where they have chickens, geese, cows, and about 400 rabbits. Not for pets. For lunch we had tortillas (made from the corn from the feild next door) and cheese (made from the milk from the cows in the backyard). How stinkin´ cool is that? I love all this super- natural (as in very much from nature, not other-worldly) food, I feel great knowing where everything comes from! Then for dinner, we drove to Xela and ate at Pizza Hut (seriously? Yes.)

Im excited about the new year. I give my first English class this Saturday, and Im terrified. I start working with the children at CEIPA on the 12th.

I´m happy here, but every day is a challenge. A few weeks ago I got very sick from eating raw cabbage and it left me emotionally and physically drained. And even though the new experience was great, it was hard being away from home at Christmas. And the language barrier can be painful at times. Before coming here I was told that Spanish would be fine , that I would "pick it up." Oh, I´m picking it up all right, like a 400 pound boulder. Just kidding, I´m sure I know more than I think I do, and it can only get better.

But the challenge is good. The challenge is what makes me feel close to God. He gives me the challenges because he believes in me, and I accept the challenges because I love him. And I´m learning to trust him, as lame as that sounds. It´s hard, but it´s good. It´s the reason I came here.
OK, that´s enough for now, bottom and top 3.
Bottom:
1. Dont get me wrong, I´m thrilled that it doesnt rain every day, but the lack of rain has caused an unforseen problem: DUST. There is a fine layer of dust coating everything, including the inside of my lungs.
2. I may have mentioned this before, but let me say it again, it is COLD here. It freezes at night. No heat. And January is supposed to be the worst. Im scared.
3. Um, I can´t speak Spanish, it´s kind of a problem.
Top:
1. Zapote. It´s a fruit that we dont have in the US. It´s shaped like an avocado and is brown on the outside and kind of maroon on the inside. It tastes like a mixture of papaya and pumpkin. Kind of. It´s really stinkin good. I just ate one before I wrote this blog.
2. Sometimes when I go running there are little kids at the feild and we play soccor together. They are all way better than me.
3. SO, it´s really cold here, but at night I get under my 6 thick blankets and put in my earplugs and I get all snuggly in my bed. I call it my cocoon and it makes me happy. It´s pretty much the only time that I am really warm.
ok and an extra one: There are these two little girls at church who are fascinated by me and are not shy about it. They play this game where one of them tries to distract me and the other one tries to touch my hair. It is amusing for all three of us and anyone who is watching.

Special thanks to all of you who sent me Christmas cheer, Happy New Year everyone!